Bird-cage hook



(No Model.)

B. C. HEYWOOD. BIRD GAGE HOOK.

No. 545,159. Patented Aug. 27,1895.

Witnesses. Inventor.

QM a. e WMQ, MLB5W gwd fie mt l Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN G. HEYWOOD, OF \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BIRD-CAGE HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,159, dated August 27, 1895.

Application filed November 24, 18%. Serial No. 529,799- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN O. HEYwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at i/Vorcester, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Bird-Gage Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to providea strong, simple, and durable bird-cage hook which may be used to secure and adj ustably support birdcages or other articles.

To these ends my invention consists of the supporting device as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a supporting device constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the wire frame or body portion. Fig. t is a perspective view of the retractile drum. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the drurn,taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 0; and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

A bird-cage hook which is constructed according to my invention consists, essentially, of a frame or body portion and a retractile drum, which is journaled upon said frame and is provided with a chain or cord, which may be connected to the article which is to be supported and which may be secured or fastened in its adjusted position.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A design ates the frame or body portion, which is preferably formed from a single piece of wire. As shown, the wire which forms .the frame or body portion A is provided at one end with a screw-shank 10, and has an extending arm 11, which is bent laterally and formed into an eye 12, serving as a guidefor the supportin gchain. The wire extends down from the eye 12 and forms a brace 15, and is then bent up and coiled around the projecting arm 11, to form the base of the device, and in practice I preferably flatten or form the base 16 of the device substantially as described in United States Letters Patent N 0. 454,891. From the base 16 the wire is bent down and forms an extending arm 17, the end of the wire being bent into a laterally-projecting arm 18, which serves as a journal for the retractile drum.

The retractile drum B, which is journaled upon the projecting arm 18, is provided with a chain or cord 0, which passes through and is guided by the eye 12 and is provided at its end with a hook or fastening device a. Extending from the eye 12, in a position to engage with and lock the chain 0 in its adjusted position, are two lugs 13 and 14, which are preferably stamped up from and formed integrally with the frame. The lugs 13 and 14 as thus located form a simple and efficient locking device for securing the chain in its adjusted position.

Then it is desired to adjust the height of the article which is supported by the chain, the chain may be disengaged from the lugs 13 and 14 and moved into the desired position, when it may be again locked or secured in place by being engaged by the lugs 13 and 14;

and it is to be noted that the tendency of the L retractile drum to win 1 up the chain will also tend to draw the chain more firmly into engagement with its locking device.

The form of retractile drum which I preferably employ is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 4. to 6 inclusive. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that the drum is provided with a body portion 22 and end flanges 20 and 21, and in practice 1 preferably form the body portion and one of the end flanges from a single piece of sheet metal, which may be stamped or spun into the desired shape, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The other end flange 20 is cut or stamped from a separate piece of sheet metal, and the two parts of the drum may be secured together by means of an eyelet 23, and in this construction it is to be noted that the eyelet 23 not only serves to securely fasten the parts of the drum together, but it will also form a bearing upon which the drum may be jonrnaled.

Mounted in the body portion of the retractile drum is a spiral spring D, which has its inner end secured to the journal 18 and its op posite end fastened to the body portion of the drum, and in practice I preferably utilize the end link 24 of the chain 0 for fastening both the chain and the end of the coiled spring to the body portion of the drum.

Referring to Fig. 5, 24 designates the end link of the chain 0, which is straightened out or opened, so as to extend through the body portion of the drum, in a position to engage with a hole or socket formed in the end of the coiled spring, and by means of this construction I am enabled to employ a single fastening for securing the end of the coiled spring and the chain. The retractile drum B is provided with a small annular cover-plate 25, and the parts as thus constructed may be secured upon thejournal 18 by means ofa small cotter or pin, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

While my improved construction has been especially designed for the purpose of supporting bird-cages, it is obvious that it may be advantageously employed for other purposes.

I am aware that changes may be made in the construction of the device by those who are skilled in the art, and that parts embodying features of myinvention maybe employed in other locations. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the construction which I have shown and described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. As an articleof manufacture, a hanging or supporting device comprising a frame or body-portion, a retractile drum mounted on said frame, a chain or cord connected to said drum, said frame being provided at one end with suitable fastening devices, and being bent laterally at its opposite end, and provided with a guide or eye for said chain, and means for securing said chain in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

2. A hanging orsupporting device coin prisinga retractile drum and its cord or chain, a frame or body portion constructed from a single piece of wire, one end of said wire forming ajournal for said drum, substantially as described.

3. A hanging or supporting device comprising a retractile drum and its cord or chain, and a frame or body portion constructed from a single piece of wire forming a guide for the chain, one end of said wire being threaded and the other end of said wire forming the journal for the retractile drum, substantially as described.

4. A hanging or supporting device comprising a retractile drum and its cord or chain, and a wire frame or body portion having a screwshank, an extending arm: 11, an eye forming a guide for the chain, a brace 15, a base 16 and a projecting end which forms the journal for the retractile drum, substantially as described.

5. A hanging or supporting device comprising a retractile drum and its chain, and a frame or body portion formed from a single piece of wire, said frame having a screwshank, an extending arm 11, an eye forming a guide for the chain, projections 13 and let for securing the chain in its adjusted position, a brace 13, a flattened base 16, an extending arm 17 and a projecting end 18 which forms the journal for the retractile drum, substan- 1 tially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a drum, a spiral spring connected at one end to the journal of said drum, and a chain arranged to wind upon said drum,

the end link of said chain being extended into the interior of the drum, and engaging a socket in the end of the spiral spring, substantially as described.

7. A sheet-metal drum comprising flanges and a body portion, the body portion and one flange being formed in one piece, and the other flange being formed of a separate piece, and an eyelet for securing the parts together, and for forming the journal of said drum, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN O. IIEYWOOD.

- Witnesses:

FREDERICK B. HARLOW, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

